[boxby]

“New rules imposing a duty of care on employers to protect their staff from sexual harassment by customers and suppliers come into force on 6 April. However, the regulations were only laid down in Parliament on 14 March under a statutory instrument which required no debate among MPs. The government has admitted the rules will cost small firms 10m to comply but they have had very little time to prepare.

A piece of legislation has been passed in Westminster which has far and unfair reachings on Small Businesses. I would urge you to take action and raise this with your MP's, as it is simply wrong. This legislation means that if one of your employees is harassed, by a customer, by a supplier, or by a random bloke in the streeet, it is YOU as the employer who will held responsible.

Kind regards
Sandra Patterson

[Indizine]

I agree. In Dec 07 one of the sheffield wednesday directors, keith addy, stood down because he made a racist comment to a member of staff at sheffield chamber of commerce. I know what was said and who it was said to, and under any circumstance it was not acceptable.

But how could that possibly be the employer's fault? How can they ever prevent such things being said or done? I suppose they could sue the offending company for any losses incurred if their employee took action, but you would lose that customer and a load of others too, who would run scared! All too scary and messy IMO.

[RayB]

Has this country finally gone stark raving bonkers

[boxby]

Originally Posted by Indizine

But how could that possibly be the employer's fault? How can they ever prevent such things being said or done? I suppose they could sue the offending company for any losses incurred if their employee took action, but you would lose that customer and a load of others too, who would run scared! All too scary and messy IMO.

And again, it's back to that same old chestnut that small businesses can't afford to fight such claims, as the legal fees & representation are too expensive, and the onerous legal requirements re employment law mean that the employer is always starting off from the back foot anyway.

The thing that is really really scary, is that it is ALREADY law. Where was the discussion, or the consultation?

There is a petition; http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/delay-rules/
Stand up and be counted!

[RayB]

Originally Posted by boxby

There is a petition; http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/delay-rules/
Stand up and be counted!

I've just signed the petition and would urge all members to do the same

[Indizine]

signed and sent. bump.

[Carbon Neutral Copy]

So much for encouraging and supporting the small business community! I can imagine this will make a lot of micro businesses think twice about expanding and taking on staff.

Thanks for bringing it to the attention of the forum, Sandra.

Signed.

[boxby]

To be honest, it looks like the opportunity for a total money spinning wheeze too, from the perspective of the none to honest employee.

Customer in Tescos calls checkout person "deary", they scream harassment, and sue Tesco's.

Which makes me wonder what the Big Employers are up to on this issue, they surely have more to loose than we do, expect perhaps they can afford the fight the cases in the first place.

[pvcprinting]

Sandra,

Again.....this country gets softer by the day. Thanks for this excellent post, have signed the petition

Regards

Pete

[JohnG]

I've signed too. Thanks for bringing it to our notice Sandra - I hadn't spotted it elsewhere and for a fleeting moment wondered if it was another April Fool joke. But saw no sign of Fuzzy so decided it couldn't be.

I'm always amused when I get an email from 10 Downing Street and it automatically goes into my Junk folder!